Warham Camp

Also within

Norfolk County Norfolk Coast Scenic Area

Condition (Natural England)

Geology & landscape

Rock Type: Chalk

Description

Area, 5.04 hectares 12.45 ac Description Warham Camp is an Iron Age fort consisting of earthworks in the form of steep banks and ditches which support a diverse chalk grassland flora. Unimproved chalk grassland is now very rare in Norfolk and this site supports several locally uncommon plants. The site is also of some entomological interest with several species of butterfly that are associated with the chalkland plants. The grassland is heavily grazed by cattle and rabbits and the resulting short turf is dominated by sheep’s fescue Festuca ovina, crested hair grass Koeleria macrantha and quaking grass Briza media. A wide variety of herb species are present. Among the more interesting are common rose Helianthemum nummularium, squinancywort Asperula cynanchica, larger wild thyme Thymus pulegioides, cowslip Primula veris, dropwort Filipendula vulgaris, felwort Gentianella amarella and pyramidal orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis. Butterfly species include common blue Polyommatus icarus and brown argus Aricia agestis and the uncommon chalk hill blue Polyommatus coridon has also been recorded.

Species mentioned